Photo Friday

A Friday tradition. A single moment from the week. A single sweet moment. A moment to savor, cherish, and remember. 

Sending sweet pictures to Daddy when he's had a rough week at work! Love these three sweet munchkins so much! 

Kaisa-Girl at 3 Months!

Our sweet baby girl turned 3 months on the 5th! I'm always amazed at how fast time can fly! 

Kaisa is just the sweetest little thing. I cannot believe that there was ever a time in my life that I was afraid of having a baby girl! She brings us so much joy. She completes our family in a way I never thought possible. We all just adore her! 

Kaisa is a very, very good baby. I am very blessed to have such a sweet little girl. She hardly fusses, and is pretty content to sit and watch all the action from the sidelines. She sleeps at night like a champ, and eats pretty well too. She just loves to be held and snuggled. (Which is fine by me!) She loves her big brothers. And just loves attention from anyone willing to give it. She has a huge contagious smile and squeal that will melt your heart!

We can work on napping. She is not a great napper. And I'm not sure if its due to the fact that her brothers are so loud that it makes it impossible... or she just hasn't found the right rhythm. So... that sometimes can make it hard to get things done! I'd gladly hold her all day long on the couch and snuggle her to sleep, but unfortunately with two demanding big brothers... that is just not possible! :) 

Physically, I am already seeing the difference between my boys and this girl. She already seems ahead of the game. I've heard girls develop a little bit quicker... and so far she is proving to be a quick learner! She can roll over, grab at her toes, grab toys/blankets/hands, and has been able to hold her head steady since 8 weeks! 

Sweet sleeping girl... I could hold her all day long! 

This may look like a torturous type of straight jacket... but she loves it! 

Kaisa At Three Months:

- LOVES her Momma! She is a Momma's girl for sure!
- Adores her Big Brothers
- Is SO SO SO loved by both Owen and Nathan... They cannot get in enough kisses!
- Loves to smile and laugh
- Is very ticklish!
- Likes to be swaddled
- Kicks when she's happy/excited
- Likes to grab things... hands, burp rags, blankets, toys, her feet/toes!
- Is pretty good at tummy time
- Has at least 1-2 blow outs a day! (We go through a lot of outfits!)
- Likes to suck on her hands
- Is becoming more social... she likes attention and being talked too
- Likes her "Baby Gym"
- Loves to laugh at herself in the mirror!
- Still sleeps in Mommy and Daddy's room
- Has a CRAZY full head of hair!
- Is so sweet

Kaisa is pretty even tempered, and tolerates many things, even if she doesn't love them!

Kaisa tolerates:
- Bathtime
- Tummy Time
- Her big brothers slobbering all over her with kisses!
- A messy Diaper
- The bouncer

Kaisa Hates:
- Her carseat! Most car rides we have to endure a lot of screaming from Kaisa-Girl... and she is LOUD. Certainly the loudest of all my children! She gets the other two worked up in a little bit of frenzy sometimes. It makes going places that much MORE difficult. In fact, all my children at this young baby stage HATED the car. Hmm??? I'm beginning to think that whole "Babies love the car and sleep the whole time" is a myth!
- Shopping carts
- Stroller...pretty much anything that requires her to be in her carseat. She would much rather be toted around in the baby carrier where she can face outward and see the world
- She is not a fan of the Swing

Dear Kaisa,

You are three months old and growing so fast!! But in these three short months I didn't think it was possible to love you this much. You came into our family as such a surprise I was afraid I would be so overwhelmed with the prospect of three little babies. But that first moment I laid eyes on you, you completely captured my heart. I'm so in love with you.

Your Daddy once said that you were the missing puzzle piece that we didn't know we were missing. And that is 100% true! You have made our family feel more and more complete. And I know that you were meant to come into our family at this time. We all just adore you to pieces. your big brothers are just so smitten with you. They love to talk, kiss, hug, and "play" with you. You are a lucky lady to have such adoring fans! Those big brothers will always protect and love you!

You are just so yummy! That is my favorite way to describe you! I just want to squeeze you all the time! Just looking at you makes me smile and fills me up so big. You are so even tempered and sweet. And I absolutely love that about you! You love to just sit in my lap and quietly watch the world around you.

I'm excited to watch you learn and to grow! It's already been so fun watching you grow into a little person and see your sweet personality shine through. And I hope to learn and grow along side of you! So please be patient with me as I am learning too! I will in no way be perfect, but I hope that I can be the best mother to you as possible. There is something very special about being a girl... and I hope that I can help you learn that you are a very special Daughter of God and worth so much more that I can ever fully express.

I am one lucky Momma... and you help contribute to that 100%!!

I love you so much!
XOXO
Mom

 We. Love. This. Girl. 

Photo Friday

A Friday tradition. A single moment from the week. A single sweet moment. A moment to savor, cherish, and remember. 

Another 'Brother Moment' and Summer is in FULL force here! 

Ocean Shores in a Day

On Saturday we finally made it over to the beach. I have been wanting to go for a couple of weeks now, and yesterday we finally made it happen. With Shad being so very busy at work, me having Baby Kaisa, and us flying up some family for visits, we haven't really gone on any family vacations this year. I have been whining about not going anywhere this summer or doing anything fun... so I was happy to finally take a little outing with my kiddos. My dad is currently in Finland, so Grandma happily came along too! And we were happy to have an extra hand with the kids! Plus Ocean Shores is one of my Mom's favorite places. 

Ocean Shores is about two hours away. Its a little long for a quick day trip with three little kiddos, but it was still doable. I'm not itching to go on any other road trips anytime soon, but I'm glad we went. Owen was excited about seeing the "Pacific Ocean" and going to the beach. I knew the weather wasn't going to be stellar, but as a raised Washingtonian I know what to expect on our beaches! The boys loved it either way, and it was still a fun family outing. 

I'll let the pictures do most of the talking. With the weather being so cloudy, but super bright still. The lighting there was perfect for some fun shots of the boys. 

Upon arrival we took a quick stroll on the beach. These pictures make it look much colder than it actually was. It was about 60* degrees out. 

Probably my favorite picture from the day. Perhaps something we will frame. I so love these two brothers!

Kaisa walking with Daddy... she didn't love how bright and windy it was! But she was a trooper!

 Our Nathan boy. 

Owen building a sand castle with Daddy! 

 After our walk, a little sand castle building, and a picnic on the beach; we decided to go buy a kite. I searched all kinds of local stores here to buy one before we left, but couldn't find any. Luckily we found one that wasn't too expensive. I think Shad had the most fun with it! He got it so high... ALL the way up! 

Each of the boys took turns flying it too. 

Me with my love. 

And of course, more of getting down and dirty in the sand!! 

Kaisa did a lot of this while we were there... Love this sweet little bug! 

Look at this handsome boy! 

 Beautiful  Grandma! 

A pretty perfect outing to the beach! I even didn't mind the clouds. 

My 28th Birthday

My 28th birthday was on Friday. And Oh what a birthday weekend it was! 

I'll admit, my birthday didn't have the best start...

On Thursday Nathan woke up with a fever and was acting like he really did not feel well at all. We were planning on taking a trip to Ocean Shores on Saturday for a little birthday getaway, and I was so hoping that we could still go. But...Nathan was still sick on Friday, and was still running a pretty steady fever. *Sigh* So we canceled our Ocean trip and I spent the day taking care of grumpy, sick Nathan. I also had a doctors appointment in Renton I had to go too, and then was stuck in traffic all afternoon! At this point I was feeling a little sad that my birthday was turning into such a blah day.

But things started to look up! 

My sweet hubby came home somewhat early from work (6PM), and agreed to watch and put to bed (Wow!) the three littles so that my mom could take me out! So, my sweet mother took me out to Southcenter from some girly shopping and a late, late dinner! It was great! I felt like a teenager again! My mom bought me all sorts of fun new clothes, make up, and a DELICIOUS dinner at the cheesecake factory. :) How awesome that at 28, and three kids later, my mother still takes me shopping and out for my birthday! 

Meanwhile... Shad and Owen were plotting a fun Saturday ahead! 

I woke up Saturday morning to two very excited little boys, who made me party hats the night before for my special day! Owen was SO excited about the party hats, it was so cute. 

 (Nathan still wasn't feeling very well... )

 Then Shad took the boys for a couple hours to shop for more birthday supplies. (While I got to snuggle and play with my little girl!) They came back equipped with gifts, streamers, balloons, and cupcakes for a perfect afternoon family party! Owen is at such a perfect age for birthday parties! (But young enough that he doesn't really care if there are many games, or people!) He is so excited at the idea of a party and singing "Happy Birthday" to someone. Our little family party was a big hit, and a very special day for Mommy! What a sweet family I have! They certainly made up for not going to the Ocean. ;) 

Even Kaisa got in on the party hat action!

We started the party with some dancing...

 Then some gifts! (Season 1 & 2 of Boys Meets World... that's right. Amazing!)

Me with my 3 favorite littles! 

And finally some pictures of me with my sweet girl. I love her. 

I'm also very grateful for all the friends & family who came by to bring me treats! Or all those who texted, called, FB, and emailed. I still have a load of candy, cupcakes, & ice cream from all the treats! Mmmm....